Thus far, this winter has been a tad less brutal than last year, hasn’t it? I certainly hope I haven’t jinxed us by making such an observation. No matter how mild the winter, there’s always a time in which cabin fever creeps up. Not this year!
Not that you really need an excuse to gather your friends, but a shindig is a great way to beat the winter blahs. When it’s a murder mystery party you’re attending, it’s a guarantee that your seasonal depression will walk right out the door.
The Murder Mystery Co. is a dinner theater troupe that is coined as “the experts in mystery entertainment.” The Detroit shows take place at Eastpointe Manor, 24611 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe, where tickets cost $60 and include a three-course meal in addition to the show.
While several of the upcoming dates are sold out, you can still purchase tickets to Murder at the Masquerade on Friday, Feb. 13 and several shows in March, including Best Laid Plans on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 21.
In case you’re not familiar with the concept of a murder mystery party, here’s how it works: the shows are interactive, and participants work with their tablemates to figure out whodunit! While enjoying your meal, you’ll gather clues, and spend the duration of the two to three hour live action show piecing the puzzle together. If that doesn’t sound just about as fun as a barrel full of puppies, I don’t know what does!
If you’d rather not attend a public event and would like to host your own at your home or office, you can do that as well! The Murder Mystery Co. does private events, and there are nearly a dozen different themes you can choose for your party. Should that strike your fancy, you can get a price quote for a private event here.
Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime at Eastpointe Manor!
50 Sips Wine, 1545 N. Leroy St., Fenton, hosts a variety of wine events and workshops each month, perhaps none as cool as the Vintage Murder Wine Dinner set to take place on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28. Sure, this one is a bit far off, but won’t purchasing a ticket and putting the reminder on your iCal give you something to look forward to for the next several weeks?
The four-course dinner includes gluten free and vegetarian options, and there will be a special big red wine tasting throughout the evening (white varieties will also be available). The first course includes a cheese and charcuterie platter, followed by a second course of spring mix salad with mixed fruit vinaigrette. The main course consists of your choice of beef medallions with rosemary, garlic baby red potatoes and asparagus, or vegetarian/gluten free lasagna with baked tomatoes and garlic bread. For dessert, you’ll be able to pick from a variety of chocolates, petit fours and ice cream. Of course, fabulous wines will be paired with each course.
The vintage murder party will follow the last Tortellini Brothers Winery auction, and it’s your job to solve the crime! Everyone is encouraged to attend in character, whether that be an interested buyer or a reporter. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased here. The vintage murder wine dinner begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
If attending a murder mystery doesn’t quite float your boat and you’d rather host your own, by all means, do so! This handy Night of Mystery site is packed with downloadable murder mystery parties that have everything you need to host your own party with anywhere from eight to 80 participants. Perhaps a Lights! Camera! Murder! themed party is in your future?
Murder mystery parties really require you to get into character, so pretend you’re Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl” (er, okay, bad example, but you get what I mean), and get your Oscar-worthy acting skills ready! Enjoy your mysterious evening in the D.